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importnut’s 2007 Dodge Magnum R/T

importnut — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:42:06 +0000

What can I say? I’ve always had a soft spot for wagons. I saw the prototype of this car in 2003 at the Detroit auto show and fell in love with it. Who knew that 20 years later, I’d get one? The original idea was to buy one to use for daily driving and plan a few projects. Early in 2024, I scored this Magnum on Facebook Marketplace from a guy in Colorado. We spoke, discussed the car’s history. The Carfax was flawless with nearly all of it’s life having existed outside the rust belt. I bought the car and made arrangements to have it shipped.

A short time later, the Magnum arrived.

This Magnum is an R/T with Road and Track package. Or “red label” as it has been called. It has an upgraded exhaust, steering, 20″ wheels and the SRT8 interior.

I really like the interior. It is the only way to get an R/T with a black interior. Otherwise, it’s gray.

Took a trip to the Gilmore Museum for Mopars at the Red Barns show.

With this introduction out of the way, I have big plans for this car. I will cover them in ongoing Project Posts.

Teaser: Hellcat wheels

importnut’s 2021 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebody

importnut — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:46:00 +0000

You may be thinking, a Dodge Challenger is not an import. I would say it’s a German platform with an engine and transmission built in Mexico and assembled in Canada. That aside, here is my F8 Green 2021 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebody with manual transmission.

I’ve been craving a RWD V8 powered toy and over the past few years, I started to lean towards the Dodge boys.

Why a Dodge? Going back to my childhood, I grew up a Mopar guy. This predates my love of imports and as much as I still love my imports, I felt the need to return to my roots.

I test drove the Challenger in 2020 as well as a Mustang GT. The Mustang is a great car and I love the high revving Coyote engine. However, I didn’t love it like I loved the Challenger. I wasn’t looking for a corner carver, just something to really enjoy.

Thinking of my childhood, Loving Mopars and building models of them, The challenger has that 60’s/70’s vibe that the Mustang and Camaro do not have. Between the styling and the color options, I just had to go with the Challenger. Even the exhaust has that old muscle car tone.

For the sake of hauling my family, I did strongly consider the Charger. I love it as much as the Challenger, but no manual transmission. A few years back, I had a Charger R/T as a rental car. I loved the 8 speed ZF transmission. If I felt that the Charger was the better option, I knew I would still enjoy the automatic.

In the end, I just had to hear the the rise and fall of the 6.4 L Hemi sound through the manual transmission. Challenger it is! We have other family haulers in our fleet!

Specs:

392 and a 6 Speed Manual
Widebody
- 6 Piston Brembo upgrade
- Adaptive Damping Suspension
- 20×11 inch wheels
- 305 35 20 Pirelli tires
Driver Convenience Package
Carbon/Suede interior
Plus Package
Harmon Kardon Audio

I did mention that I wasn’t looking for a corner carver. I still had to give it a try!

The Scat Pack, and especially the widebody, makes it the sportiest version of the Challenger. I understand it has the stiffest front springs of any Challenger. How did it hold up at an autocross? Better than you would expect, but it’s definitely not a Miata.

For as large as the car is, it was still easy enough to maneuver through slaloms and tighter sections. The upgraded Pirellis are not up to the task. I had swapped the Brembo pads for less grabby Hawk Street HP 5.0’s and they weren’t up to the task. Beyond that, I think a proper set of tires and a more track suitable pad would make this an absolute blast at an autocross.

As I’ve already mentioned, I wanted a fun car to experience. The Challenger does that well. For autocrossing, I still have my Civic.

Overall, I’m really happy with the Challenger. It checks a lot of the right boxes. There are more refined and civilized cars out there but I just wasn’t interested!

Importnut’s ’94 Civic Si Hatch

importnut — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 23:00:35 +0000

Here is my ’94 Civic Hatchback. I’ve owned this car since October of 2002. I bought it shortly after I totaled my ’95 Civic Coupe. I’ve managed to keep a few bits and pieces of that first Civic which I bought new in 1995. My civic went from daily driver to a dedicated project car/autocrosser in 2007 after a catastrophic engine failure.

As the years go by, I make an attempt to strategically plan the work I do to try and make cost effective improvements as they relate to autocrossing. As I learn more about suspension tuning, and tire tech, I feel as if I can hone in on the best modifications for the money spent.

Building my Civic into a Street Modified FWD nationals level contender would be a blast. However, I only run at the local level and having a 300+ hp civic running 275 35 15 Hoosiers up front is overkill. I’ve been successful running my mild setup on street tires and I’m satisfied with the incremental improvements I’ve made over the years.

Check out my Project Civic Series

Power modifications

OBDI JDM B18C (GSR) from HMotors Online
Skunk2 Alpha Series Header
Skunk2 Alpha Series 66m Throttle Body
Skunk2 Pro Series Intake manifold
Greddy Supreme SP Exhaust
OEM RDX injectors with Xenocron Tuning adaptors
Hondata S300v ECU Upgrade
HAmotorsports reconditioned P28 ECU
Magnaflow Catalytic Converter
Skunk2 Radiator
3″ aluminum air intake, made with Vibrant tubing
Skunk2 Universal High Velocity Intake Kit – 3″ Coupler
Fluidamper crank pulley
Hard Racing hard rubber torque mounts
Moroso extra capacity oil pan
PLM Racing Slim Transmission mount
Deatschwerks DW200 255 lph fuel pump
HPS radiator hoses
B&R Breather kit
Hondata thermal intake manifold gasket
Blox intake manifold stud kit
Silver aluminum Cam Seal
AEM UGEO Wideband O2 sensor and gauge
AEM X-series oil pressure gauge
AEM X-series temp gauge for oil
AEM X-series temp gauge for water

Transmission Modifications

Energy Suspension’s shifter bushings
OEM ITR shifter
Sohfast 11lb. Flywheel
Quaife ATB Limit Slip Differential
Exedy Stage I clutch and pressure plate
Driveshaft Shop Axles
B16a3 1st-4th gear, LS 5th gear

Suspension Modifications

KYB AGX shocks
Whiteline Front control arm bushings
For Racing
- 949 Racing 6UL 15×9 wheels
- 225 45 15 Falken Azenis RT660 Tires
For Street
- 949 Racing 6UL 15×8 wheels
- 225 45 15 Hankook Ventus RS4 Tires
3G Integra Power Steering rack and hardware
Hardrace Steering Rack Bushings
Eibach Sway-bar Kit (25mm front 17mm rear)
ASR Rear Sub frame brace
Skunk 2 Front adjustable upper control arms (pro series)
Hardrace rubber rear upper control arms
Hardrace rubber rear compensator arms
Hardrace rubber rear lower control arm bushings
Hardrace rubber rear trailing arm bushings
Ground Control Coilover Conversion 450lb R 600lb F
Password 3 Point Front Strut Tower Bar
Password 2 point Rear Strut Tower Bar

Brake Modifications

Complete conversion to S2000 ABS
ITR front Calipers
Cooper Mini 280mm rotors
Hawk, DTC60 Pads F&R
Goodridge SS brake lines F&R
Integra 1″ Master Cylinder
Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid